Just nine months after reaching the pinnacle of regional basketball, the Launceston Tornadoes are staring at rock bottom.
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The transformation from grand finalists in the last season of the SEABL competition to under-achievers in the inaugural NBL1 reached a new low when they were humbled on consecutive days at the weekend.
Having conceded 130 points to a Ballarat side which saw seven of its eight players break double figures, Derrick Washington's team then conceded a three-figure score for the fourth time in five games in a 37-point loss to a Centre of Excellence side that went into the clash bottom of the table.
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With just three wins from their 11 games, the Torns sit 15th of 18 sides at the midway point of the new Victorian competition and facing a daunting proposition.
Runaway league leaders Geelong Supercats will be the opposition twice in the next three games either side of an unpredictable derby against the Southern Huskies.
Since losing last season's SEABL decider to Bendigo, the Torns have also lost player of the season Lauren Nicholson plus Ally Wilson, Lauren Mansfield and Ellie Collins.
New Zealand import Stella Beck attempted to fill the void before she too was claimed by international duties and when American Brittany Hodges was hit by a hamstring complaint on Sunday it left an inexperienced and vulnerable side that relies heavily on Sarah O'Neill and Stephanie Gardner.
Washington said he remains confident of a turnaround in form and is ready for the challenge of the Supercats with Hodges hopeful of a return for Saturday's game at Elphin which starts at 6.30pm.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
